As you know, the skin is the body’s largest organ. It acts as a sponge and therefore absorbs approximately 60% of what you put on it, affecting the health and well being of the body.

Through the application of products, we expose our skin, and body, to a large number of ingredients with no knowledge of their long-term effects. Many of the products that we apply consist of ingredients that are toxic. Here is a list of ingredients to look out for:

Alcohol

Alcohol dehydrates the skin and strips the skin of its protective barrier. It causes irritation, dryness and free-radical damage. But most importantly, it destroys the very substances that keep the skin healthy. Ultimately, through regular use of products with an alcohol base, the skin is continuously in a state of stress.

Parabens

These are preservatives usually found in products used externally – body products – as well as internally – pharmaceuticals. Also, parabens imitate estrogen which can disrupt endocrine and potentially cause reproductive disorders. It is further suspected parabens cause lower sperm count in men. And they have been present in over 90% of human breast cancer tumors in a study conveyed in 2004.

Synthetic Fragrances

Synthetic fragrances found in most fragranced products, such as perfume, aftershave, shower gel and scented body lotions contain a large numbers of chemicals and potentially harmful ingredients. These cause irritation and in some cases eczema, asthma, allergic rashes and headaches.

Best alternatives to synthetic oils are essential oils. And these give herbs and flowers their fragrance.

Mineral Oil

The three main sources of mineral oils are crude rock oil drilled from the ground, fish discards such as the guts and rancid plant oil. Not exactly what you wish to put on your skin.

Mineral oil sits on the skin and forms a layer that causes blocked pores. This can lead to blackheads, spots and acne due to the fact that the skin can’t breathe through the layer. Also, it further interrupts the skin’s ability to eliminate the necessary toxins through the skin, as it is blocked.

Mineral oils are found in lipsticks, baby oils and face and body lotions.

Sodium Lauryl and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS)

These are toxic, artificial foaming ingredients found in products such as shampoo, toothpaste, bubble bath, washing powder, soaps etc. They cause skin irritations, are toxic to internal organs and can cause reproductive problems.

A big concern is that the human body doesn’t always get rid of these toxins once absorbed. For this reason it remains in the tissues for a long time.

Triclosan

Triclosan is a synthetic anti- bacterial ingredient. Furthermore, it has a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange, that the Vietnamese used in the war and is still having side-effects today. Because it is a hormone disrupter, it poses long-term chronic health risks interfering with the performance of hormones. And when stored in body fat, the toxic levels accumulate and affect the liver, kidneys and lungs. In some cases, it can cause paralysis, brain haemorrhages and heart problems.

The usage of Triclosan in popular products such as toothpaste and household products may have massive negative implications in the future.

Find out more about Uber Natural Beauty – the all natural range of skin, hair and body products, free from gluten, parabens, sodium lauryl / laureth sulphate and synthetically produced preservatives on www.uberbeautysa.co.za